Introducing Sustainable Management of Natural Resources

www.naturalresources. Wales’ natural resources provide The Challenge our basic needs; the air we Wales faces many challenges, such as securing energy and fuel supply, creating jobs and income, tackling poverty and inequality, breathe, the water we drink, and tackling the threats of climate change and flooding, and improving people’s health and well-being. the food we eat. They give us Meeting these challenges needs fresh ideas, a radical new way of thinking and doing things. This includes how we maintain, improve and use our energy, prosperity and security; natural resources. A poorly managed environment increases the long-term risks to our well-being they protect us and make us and ultimately makes these challenges worse. A healthy and resilient environment helps sustain people and our economy. healthier and our lives better. We need to look for ways that our natural resources can provide multiple benefits for people and nature, now and into the future, whilst ensuring we continue building their resilience. When our environment is working at its best, society as a whole thrives. By unlocking the potential that lies within the natural resources of Wales, by managing them and using them in a more joined up way, they can help us face the challenges ahead.

The Opportunity

The Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act together create modern legislation for managing Wales’ natural resources and improve the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. They will help us tackle the challenges we face and to take better advantage of the potential opportunities for Wales. The Environment Act focuses on building resilience into our ecosystems and recognising the benefits that they provide if we manage them in a smarter way. What is sustainable management What are the principles? of natural resources? Principles of sustainable management of natural resources Sustainable management of natural resources is defined in the Environment manage adaptively by planning, monitoring, Act as: Adaptive reviewing and where appropriate, changing “using natural resources in a way and at a rate that maintains and enhances the management resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide. In doing so, meeting action the needs of present generations of people without compromising the ability consider the appropriate spatial scale of future generations to meet their needs, and contributing to the achievement Scale of the well-being goals in the Well-being of Future Generations Act.” for action

Collaboration promote and engage in collaboration and engagement and cooperation

make appropriate arrangements for public Public Participation participation in decision-making Well-being goals take account of all relevant evidence, and Evidence gather evidence in respect of uncertainties

take account of the benefits and intrinsic Multiple benefits A globally value of natural resources and ecosystems responsible A prosperous Wales Wales take account of the short, medium and Long term long term consequences of actions A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving A resilient take action to prevent significant damage to Preventative action Welsh Wales ecosystems Language take account of the resilience of ecosystems, in particular the following A Wales of aspects: cohesive A healthier (i) diversity between and within communities Wales ecosystems; (ii) the connections between and A more Building equal within ecosystems; resilience Wales (iii) the scale of ecosystems; (iv) the condition of ecosystems (including their structure and functioning); (v) the adaptability of ecosystems

Natural Resources Wales’ purpose is to pursue sustainable management of natural resources. We will apply a specific set of principles while maximising our contribution to the well-being goals. The principles and the well-being goals will change the way we work. Why are they important? Area Trials – sustainable We must apply the principles to fulfil our purpose. Applying all of the principles management of natural will help us to understand the root causes of the challenges facing our natural resources, to recognise the unique characteristics of a place and its people, and resources in practice to develop nature-based and joined up solutions. The purpose of the trials was to: • investigate what sustainable management of natural resources means within a local context. How are they different? • think about how we apply our new duties under the Environment Act and the Well-being of Future Generations Act. The principles are different because: • inform changes to NRW’s ways of working in line with the new legislation. • they require us to think about the complex relationships between The trials were an opportunity to explore how we apply the principles in nature and people over the long term. practice to shape the implementation of our new duties in the Environment • they help us to think about the benefits that we get from natural resources Act. Working closely with the people who live and work in the areas now and in the future, recognising the ways they support our well-being. we wanted to identify priorities, risks, and opportunities for sustainable management of natural resources, and develop projects to implement • they encourage us to think about ways of making our ecosystems new ideas. more resilient. And perhaps most important of all, • they mean involving people in tackling these challenges from the start to identify the connections and opportunities to manage things better. We accept we don’t have all the answers and we’re open to new ideas.

What will change?

Whilst many of us will already be striving to deliver in this way, these principles will mean some new ways of working for us and the organisations we work with. To help us prepare for the new legislation, in 2014 we set up three natural resource management trials to test what works and doesn’t work, and then apply the learning across our organisation. Where were the trials? What did the trials do?

The three trials were in the Rhondda and Tawe in South Wales, and Dyfi in Mid • We deliberately took an open approach to investigating priorities, Wales. These areas were chosen to represent a variety of places and interests. risks and opportunities in each of the trial areas. Each trial was based on a catchment, but was chosen because of its different environmental, economic and societal circumstances. • We were flexible and adaptive, taking advantage of opportunities and trying out new ideas. • We involved local people, partners and businesses throughout the trials to test ideas, gather evidence, and agree priorities.

As the trials preceded the Natural Resources Policy Statement and the Environment Act they did not have the benefit of a national policy steer on sustainable management of natural resources. We used a similar set of principles to the ones that are now in the Act.

Dyfi How did the trials do?

The trials demonstrate that applying the principles makes a difference. It encourages more rounded and integrated approaches to tackling environmental, economic and societal issues, seeking solutions that deliver multiple benefits whilst building resilience. Not enough time has passed to determine whether the projects within each trial have delivered the outcomes they were designed to achieve. But we’re continually learning and monitoring progress and will adapt accordingly. • We’ve received positive feedback from our partners about the approach. They feel more engaged with us, and welcome the opportunity to play a role in finding solutions. • Learning is being used to assess our own business processes, and whether

Tawe they can be changed to better suit these new ways of working. • The approach has allowed us to work with our partners on big societal issues, which in the past were considered too challenging or not within our remit. A snapshot of case studies follows. Further information about the trials, the nature of the work undertaken, and the way the principles were applied, is also available. Rhondda Adaptive management Case study The partnership approach influenced the Fire and Rescue Service’s way of working in the Rhondda to include pro-active wildfire training, Healthy Hillsides: partnership approach to help incorporate land management techniques such as controlled burns and cutting of fire breaks, and purchase new machinery. This is tackle wildfires in the Rhondda in addition to their education and awareness raising work with communities on the impacts of wildfires on people and wildlife. Healthy Hillsides is a collaborative approach to better manage the Rhondda’s natural resources to help minimise the impact and severity of wildfires. Collaboration and engagement Wildfires deliberately caused by arson affect the every year. Nine core partners with support from local farmers and volunteers who were engaged from the outset. Prior to our engagement this When we spoke to local people, tackling this problem was a priority for them. was not a significant priority for NRW in the Rhondda. The risks associated with wild fires are broad and as well as environmental damage include potential damage to life, property, livelihoods and health. Building resilience The opportunity was to implement proactive land management techniques, Restoring the hillside habitat to reduce fire risk enhances the resilience which can help reduce the extent of wildfires and prevent them spreading across of the ecosystem and improves resilience to climate change. whole hillsides, devastating local wildlife and endangering communities. Multiple benefits Improving the area for wildlife, savings to the local economy, improvements to air and water quality, better access for recreation, innovative working between partners.

Scale Initial focus on the Rhondda was due to the high number of fires, and as a good opportunity to develop a collaborative approach. If successful, it can be up-scaled across the South Wales valleys.

Long-term The new approach to introduce sustainable land management options and joined up working between organisations will ensure the long term success of the project.

Well-being goals Sustainable management of the landscape to restore habitat for wildlife and improving access to the hillsides will make the Rhondda a more resilient, healthier and prosperous place to live. We will need to continue to consider how working to the well-being goals can help improve the wider benefits of this project.

In spring 2015, there were 513 deliberate fires in Rhondda Cynon Taf. 244 of these were in the Rhondda. Evidence Case study By mapping deprived areas alongside distance to accessible green spaces, we’re able to see which communities have both a deficit of Swansea Eastside connections green-space and poor health, and therefore can focus on connecting these communities to their natural resources. The project was to explore opportunities to connect people to the natural resources of the eastside of Swansea to maximise benefits for health and Long Term well-being in particular. The project provides the foundation for future work to maximise Kilvey Hill is a prominent feature on the Swansea landscape, situated close to the benefits provided by the area’s natural resources. We took into the east of the city, or “Eastside”. It’s flanked by other fantastic, but overlooked account some of the proposed long term changes to Swansea to natural resources: Crymlyn Bog Special Area of Conservation/Ramsar site, the help us identify potential opportunities that would deliver Tennant Canal and the River Tawe. All these areas are currently isolated and local for the future. people told us that Kilvey Hill especially was under-utilised as issues such as fires, illegal off-roading and poor access had given it a poor reputation. Scale The scale has been chosen to reflect both the communities at greatest We manage some of the land in this part of Swansea. The opportunity therefore risk of poor health, and the ecosystems that will benefit from this was to consider this area as a whole, and to use the principles to explore approach. We increased the scale to include other important green different options for the management of Eastside, building collaborative and blue spaces that enables us to think about how to improve the approaches to rejuvenating the landscape and contributing to health, connections between them. well-being and economic benefits. Multiple benefits The project will deliver multiple benefits by improving health and well-being of local people, biodiversity, providing opportunities for tourism, recreation, access to green spaces and restoring the natural beauty of the area.

Building resilience This project will better manage the woodland areas of Kilvey and make it more diverse and resilient. Improving access routes for people between green spaces may also provide useful wildlife corridors.

Well-being goals The project will ultimately lead to initiatives that will improve health by encouraging outdoor recreation, provide potential employment through tourism, and targeting certain communities to create a more equal Wales. Going forward the project will need to continue to consider the well-being goals for example, through designing initiatives that help improve health. Evidence Case study Several sites were initially identified by the modelling but the final site was chosen by speaking to local people and taking account of site Restoring an ancient woodland site in the Dyfi conditions and scale.

The project used a mix of mapping and modelling tools, and local knowledge Long Term to identify the best sites for restoring plantations on ancient woodland back The work has reduced the threat to the future of the ancient to mixed broadleaved woodland within the Dyfi. woodland. Further work in the area will ensure the site thrives Over the years fragmentation and planting conifers on broadleaved woodland as part of a resilient woodland network. sites has created risks to the long-term resilience of species that rely on them, as well as their wider benefits. Woodland provides flood protection, controls soil Scale erosion by slowing surface water run off, and stores carbon. Whilst both types of The scale was chosen based on the extent of land that we manage woodland deliver a range of benefits, broadleaved woodland is considered more in the area, and the potential benefits for connectivity. suited to our native wildlife than conifers, offering greater biodiversity benefits. In early 2015, contractors removed Western Hemlock and Rhododendron Multiple Benefits (non-native species) from the site at Cwm Glesrwrch. This opportunity The work has created good conditions for biodiversity to thrive, and significantly opened up the canopy allowing species such as Oak, created a better environment for visitors, and has already been used Ash and Birch to be re-established. for educational field visits. As the site will no longer be clear felled, there may also be benefits to water quality in the future.

Building Resilience This was central to the aim of the project - to build a more resilient broadleaved woodland network in the Dyfi.

Well-being goals Wales’ woodlands makes us healthier, vibrant and globally responsible by providing a space for recreation and education and employment. They’re also a source for fuel, reduce flooding and store carbon. These were important considerations in the design of the project. What did we learn?

• We need to work and engage at a scale which is both right for the issue, and is meaningful to our stakeholders. • We need to consider the root causes of issues rather than reacting to the immediate and visible problems (treating the symptoms). • We need to be ambitious and challenge existing practice if it is not delivering the right outcomes for natural resources, for people and for the economy. • We need to be better networked and involve people earlier and more often. • We need to talk to people outside of our normal circles. • We need to involve experts and local people to fully understand what the evidence is saying about a problem or issue.

Next steps – embedding the learning

We are committed to embedding sustainable management of natural resources and the learning from the trials throughout the organisation. It will take time for us all to adapt to these new ways of working but we want to share our experiences with others. The lessons from the trials also help shape how we prepare to develop Area Statements, which is a requirement of the Environment Act. In the future Area Statements will help deliver the ’s Natural Resources Policy, by identifying priorities, risks and opportunities for sustainable management of natural resources, and help us plan and prioritise working in collaboration at a local level.

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